Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.

Taylor Mitchie
Taylor Mitchie

Name: Taylor Michie

Occupation: Social media assistant at SmartFlyer; Aviation correspondent at Airchive; freelance travel journalist and photographer

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Residence: Annapolis, Maryland / New York City

College: Fordham University

College major: International relations

Website: racingwinds.com

Twitter: @racingwinds

Facebook: /racingwinds 

Pinterest: /racingwinds

Instagram: racingwinds

Short bio: From an early early age, Taylor Michie was always on the move, in relentless pursuit of the next big adventure. Eventually, adventures moved from the backyard to Brussels, Alicante, Frankfurt, Marrakech, and a handful of additional places in far and wide. Taylor spent his early teenage years guest writing for the Volvo Ocean Race’s public relations team, before transitioning to freelance work. While working as a travel journalist and photographer, he covered events for the likes of Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Boeing. 

Taylor’s work has appeared in AFAR, The Huffington Post, and, most recently, on the cover of TIME Magazine’s The Wireless Issue, among others. He has been nominated for three Shorty Awards, and has received two President’s Volunteer Service Awards for his charity work at home and abroad.

How often do you fly? Usually once a month, but not nearly enough.

How many countries have you been to? Eight.

How many continents have you been to? Three, though I’ll have made it six by this time next year.

Earliest travel memory: Flying to Orlando to visit Disney World. I think I was four.

Favorite American city: San Francisco, California.

Least favorite country: I can’t say I’ve visited one that I really disliked.

Country with the meanest immigration officers: Germany. They weren’t outright mean, but they seemed highly suspicious of me. 

Favorite aircraft type: The Boeing 757 will always have a special place in my heart.

Aisle or window: Window.

Favorite international airport: Madrid-Barajas’s Terminal 4 (but only T4!) The architecture is stunning.

Favorite cruise line: Never cruised.

Favorite beach: Cape Cod’s Nauset Beach.

Favorite fruit: Papaya.

Favorite food: Sushi.

Least favorite food: Lobster.

Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Tea of all types. Herbal, bubble, flavored… it’s all delicious.

Favorite travel movie(s): Quantum of Solace, Casino Royale, Skyfall. 

Favorite travel book(s): Saved by Beauty, Three Cups of Tea, Cruising Attitude.

Right now I am reading: Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel.

Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: My Life’s a Trip, AFAR, Aviators and a Camera.

Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Conde Nast Traveler, One Mile at a Time, SmartFlyer, Airchive.com.

5 things you bring on a plane: MacBook, iPhone, Moleskine, and chocolate for the crew.

What do you always seem to forget? Plug adaptors or toiletries. Usually I’m good at remembering the big stuff.

What do you like least about travel? Jetlag. 

Favorite travel app(s): Uber, Jetpac City Guides, and VSCO Cam for photo editing.

Most embarrassing travel moment: Spending nearly $300 on a cab between Brussels-National and Brussels-Charleroi, all because I didn’t do thorough enough research on public transportation options.

Worst travel moment: There have been a few frustrating incidents, but I try to look at them as learning experiences.

What’s your dream destination? Antarctica, closely followed by New Zealand and Australia. 

Favorite travel charity: Peter Shankman’s most recent ‘Home for the Holidays’ fundraising effort (link), if that counts.

Best travel tip: Go with the flow. Plan a tentative itinerary, but leave room for spontaneity. Split-second decisions are responsible for some of my fondest travel memories.

1 Comment On "Travel Style: Taylor Michie"
  1. Taylor Michie|

    Honored to be featured. Thanks so much, Johnny!

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